I do know that I am at least 3 days late with this article but I do believe that wonderful things can happen in only 3 days…which is why so many people celebrate Resurrection Sunday. In reality my family was really busy in the month of March which is why I am late but the books I chose for this month were really great and worth the wait.
I am wondering, did you ever get a chance to check out any of the other books I have reviewed? Let me know!
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Just You and Me by Jennifer Ward
Just You and Me: Remarkable Relationships in the Wild by Jennifer Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Just You and Me by Jennifer Ward is a nonfiction book about symbiotic relationships in nature, on land and in the sea. These relationships have been created by what seems to be unlikely animal friends but they have learned to work together to take care of each other.
For instance a Nile crocodile can’t clean their own teeth so they allow an Egyptian plover bird to hop, safely into their mouth to eat the leftover food in their teeth and gums. The crocodile gets a clean mouth and the bird gets a full belly.
The colorful illustrations by Alexander Vidal add great interest in this picture book and help showcase the relationships of these unlikely friends. I think they also make for great conversations starters for children and grownups alike.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Just You and Me by Jennifer Ward on Amazon.
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Homeless by Bernard Wolf
Homeless by Bernard Wolf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Homeless by Bernard Wolf is a very touching nonfiction story told in the voice of Mikey, an 8-year-old boy. Mikey and his family are homeless and are living in a very hard and real scenario. This book was published in 1995, but there are still a lot of similar stories like Mikey’s
I don’t think this book is meant for very young children because they just won’t have the attention span, but for children 7 and older, I think this would be a powerful way to help children learn to empathize with people experiencing homelessness.
Wolf didn’t just write this biography, he also showcased the story with powerful photography that illustrated the family’s life. Both the writing and photography help to illustrate the difficulties of families that need help.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Homeless by Bernard Wolf on Amazon.
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Rabbit and Squirrel A Tale of War and Peas by Kara LaReau
Rabbit & Squirrel: A Tale of War and Peas by Kara LaReau
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
The illustrations by Scott Magoon are adorable. This is my favorite thing about the picture book Rabbit and Squirrel A Tale of War and Peas by Kara LaReau. I really wanted to love this book but the animal characters: Rabbit and Squirrel loved gardening but never tried to share their produce. They were quick to judge each other and when the farmer kicked them out of their garden, they continued to blame each other.
The thought of them getting sick of blaming each other and growing a garden together is not enough for me. I realize this is a fiction book but I want a better moral to the story, not just for me but for the children that would be inspired by this book. I will be choosing a different book for storytime at my house.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Rabbit and Squirrel A Tale of War and Peas by Kara LaReau on Amazon.
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Corduroy Takes a Bow by Viola Davis
Corduroy Takes a Bow by Viola Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I haven’t read about Corduroy for years but I have already ordered Corduroy and A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman, the original creator of this fiction series, for my personal children’s book collection. These books will be in my next review. I so enjoyed Corduroy Takes a Bow by Viola Davis and it is in my shopping cart right now!
Lisa and her mother have gone to the theater for the first time. They are excited to see Mother Goose and of course Lisa has brought along her teddy bear, Corduroy. In true form, Corduroy has found a way to have an animal adventure while at the theater but still make it back into Lisa’s arms.
I love the illustrations by Jody Wheeler for this picture book. I love that both Davis and Wheeler stayed faithful to the original character of Corduroy, who is always lovable and heartwarming.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Corduroy Takes a Bow by Viola Davis on Amazon.
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Fred’s Big Feelings The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers by Laura Renauld
Fred’s Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers by Laura Renauld
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I loved Mr. Rogers Neighborhood all my life. I would still watch reruns if I could find them. Mr. Rogers knew how to talk so I could understand my emotions and good ways to express them. Fred’s Big Feelings The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers by Laura Renauld is a very children’s-sized version of another nonfiction biography I have read and reviewed: The Good Neighbor The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King.
I am not sure a young child would have the attention span for this book because of the amount of history in it, but a child of 7 and up would appreciate this book. Especially the parts that talk about Mr. Rogers as a child. Parents will appreciate knowing how much time Mr. Rogers studied mental health as part of his spirituality journey so that he could project honesty and care into all of his programming. The illustrations by Brigitte Barrager add a lot to this picture book as well.
I got this book from the Longview Public Library. You can get your own copy of Fred’s Big Feelings The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers by Laura Renauld on Amazon.
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I really enjoyed the books I found for March. Reading children’s books has become something I am really enjoying and collecting them for the children in my life is become a small hobby that makes me happy as well.
What are some things that bring you joy?
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Feel free to leave your comments below!
My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven. For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information. If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
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